Broken Sprinklers Cause Plants to Wilt at Kalakshetra Colony Park in Thiruvanmiyur

Residents of Kalakshetra Colony in Thiruvanmiyur are appealing to the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) for assistance as plants are wilting at a local park due to broken and malfunctioning sprinklers. On the evening of July 17, the Kalakshetra Colony Welfare Association (KCWA) raised concerns over the deteriorating condition of the green space, which is located at the intersection of Karunanidhi Road and MGR Road in Ward 179.

According to residents, the sprinkler systems installed some months ago are either broken, sedentary, or highly erratic. Instead of watering the entire green space, the few functioning sprinklers pool water ineffectively in single areas, leaving the rest of the park's vegetation dry.

Bharati Sadasivam, an MGR Road resident and KCWA executive committee member, described the park as a vital green refuge for neighborhood walkers during mornings and evenings. The park is the only one of its kind for miles around, featuring more than 25 varieties of plants and trees, including a mandaarai tree.

Sadasivam noted that the installation of the sprinklers also caused physical damage to the park's infrastructure. Workers damaged parts of the walkers' track during the installation process and have not carried out repairs despite numerous complaints from the residents. Additionally, while the park's walls were repainted some months ago, the benches remain badly in need of a fresh coat of paint.

The park was originally salvaged from a rubbish dump and converted into a green space by civic-minded residents, notably the late Mr. Krishnamoorthy, who lived next door. Over the years, the KCWA has taken a keen interest in the park's maintenance, troubleshooting issues and taking them to local Corporation officials and the Ward 179 councillor.

Following the recent complaints, a local GCC official stated that the issues pertaining to the malfunctioning sprinklers will be resolved soon.